A rare U.S. Air Force RC-135U Combat Sent reconnaissance aircraft was intercepted Russian Air Force MiG-31BM and Su-35S fighters over Sea of Japan on Jul. 11.
There are only two RC-135U currently in service and this particular example intercepted is 64-14849. Three RC-135C were converted to the RC-135U and one aircraft, 63-9792, was later converted into a Rivet Joint in 1978. Both aircraft are assigned to the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base.
The role of the Combat Sent locate and collect foreign military land, naval and airborne radar signals. The factsheet by the USAF says the “Combat Sent records these signals for future reference or for extensive analysis by electronic systems theorists. Any information garnered from the data will help determine detailed operating characteristics and capabilities of foreign systems. Evasion techniques and equipment are then developed from this knowledge that will detect, warn of, or defeat these electronic systems.”
Each mission is manned by two pilots, one navigator, two airborne systems engineers, and a minimum of 10 electronic warfare officers and six or more mission area specialists.
To navigate around the world, the aircraft incorporates ground navigation radar, a solid state Doppler system, and an inertial navigation system that merges celestial observations and Global Positioning System data.